No reconciliation, no forgiveness! Mr. Pei leaves with nothing.

Jiang Hua used to bring up his past with Song Qingran every day, and now it's his turn. But Jiang Hua doesn't buy into Pei Zhan's act. Seeing him disdainfully throw down the share transfer agreement, she decided not to say anything more.

Jiang Hua hadn't had a good rest yet, and now that she had come to express her opinion, he was still pushing his luck. She hadn't slept well last night either, and this made her extremely impatient. She went up and tore up the contract, throwing it in his face, saying, "Take it or leave it."

Pei Zhan was not angry at Jiang Hua's actions. As she turned to leave, Pei Zhan said directly, "I want you to give me Shen Yebai's part."

"You think you're worthy?" Jiang Hua didn't even glance at him and continued walking towards the door.

It seemed like he was really angry.

When she reached the door, Jiang Hua stopped without turning around. "Aunt Xu told me that some things are better left unsaid, and that we shouldn't say things that would change the meaning if we said them out loud. But I think we should say what we want to say."

"The portion I gave to the Shen family was voluntary, and I will never take it back, even if the Shen family wants to use the Jiang family for something."

"The reason I did that was simply because of the situation at the time. Nobody knew what would happen, and besides the Shen family, I didn't know who else I could trust. Back then, you were focused on Song Qingran, and you also wanted to take over the Jiang family for yourself, so I didn't trust you. When the Jiang family was in trouble, Shen Yebai was the first person to stand up for them. Just for that..."

Jiang Hua turned around and looked at the person sitting in that seat with an unfamiliar gaze she had never seen before. At this moment, there was no emotion or status between them, only pure self-interest. "You want me to completely forget the past and pretend that nothing ever happened? I can't do that."

"Even now, I can't trust you 100%."

"Pei Zhan... the absence of any emotional connection is a terrifying thing. Everything you did for the Jiang family was solely because of this affection. Without this affection, I don't know what would be left between us..."

All the agreements between her and Pei Zhan were actually based entirely on Pei Zhan's conscience.

Actually, Xu Ma wasn't entirely right about some things. If things aren't said aloud, and people rely solely on suspicion, things will only fall apart further. It's not that she doesn't understand some things, or that she doesn't think about them, but the more she thinks about them, the less happy she becomes. Having too many worries only makes life more tiring.

Jiang Hua's life was just... taking it one day at a time...

As for what would happen next, Jiang Hua from her previous life had already foreseen the ending. She didn't want to break through that barrier and just live out her life in a daze, at least... without suffering.

"Sit properly in your current seat."

Just as Jiang Hua was about to step out of the CEO's office, the door in front of her closed automatically. When she tried to open it, she couldn't budge it an inch; it had been tampered with.

Even the slightest disagreement between the two of them could lead to this. Pei Zhan knew that if Jiang Hua left today, their hard-won rapprochement would only revert to its old state. He didn't want their relationship to fall apart again because of Shen Yebai.

I disliked even more the way Jiang Hua looked at him just now…

Jiang Hua stared at the tightly closed door without turning around, until two hands wrapped around her slender waist from behind, slowly pulling her into a hug. Her back pressed against the man's chest, which was burning hot. Jiang Hua didn't react. The man lowered his head, burying his face in her neck in a gesture of submission, and whispered in a soft, deep, and pleasant voice, "What will Mrs. Pei do if I'm not here one day?"

"Just because of Shen Yebai, we've become like this. There will be countless more things like this in the future."

"You trust Shen Yebai because I have hurt you in the past. I can't deny it, and I have nothing to say. I have tried my best to make amends. As you wish, I will manage everything in the Jiang family well."

"I only hope that the people you trust will not betray your trust."

“I only stayed in the Jiang family because of you. As long as the matter of Song Qingran is not removed from your heart, we will continue like this. Even without the Jiang family, I have the ability to rebuild a Jiang family, you know that.”

"You will have to make a choice between me and Shen Yebai sooner or later."

"You still treat me the same way, with absolutely no trust. It's my fault for not giving you enough security. I won't force you to do anything..."

Pei Zhan sighed and withdrew his hand. "I'll have Xiang Nan take you home. I have a meeting. Be careful on your way back." He pressed the button next to the door, and the door reopened.

Zuo Xiangnan happened to be guarding the gate at that moment. The gate was very soundproof, so Zuo Xiangnan didn't hear anything about the conversation between the two. However, he noticed that the atmosphere between the two was a bit strange and very tense, which made his scalp tingle. He just hoped that the two would stop arguing. If these two started arguing, the entire company would suffer.

"Send the young lady back."

Zuo Xiangnan nodded. "It's President Pei."

Upon seeing the person leaving, Zuo Xiangnan immediately followed.

Jiang Hua didn't go straight back to the Jiang family home. Instead, she went to the studio that Shen Bao'er had rented for her. The place was very large, taking up an entire floor. There were also new tools and equipment next to it. The building was not far from the municipal government, only about one kilometer away.

"Huahua, take a look here, do you like it?"

"Let me tell you, from now on you won't have to take a taxi after get off work anymore, your brother will take you home, it'll be so convenient."

"Huahua?" Seeing that Jiang Hua did not respond, she called out several times in a row, "Huahua, Huahua Huahua!"

Jiang Hua quickly came to her senses. "Hmm?"

Shen Bao'er, "Huahua, what's wrong? You've been distracted ever since you arrived. Did that country bumpkin upset you again?"

"Didn't my brother and I choose this place for you?"

"If you don't like it, just tell me and we'll go somewhere else."

Jiang Hua: "It's okay, this place is fine."

Shen Bao'er nodded happily, "Okay." Shen Bao'er took Jiang Hua's hand, "Hua Hua, let's go shopping, and then wait for brother to get off work, and then we'll go eat, okay?"

Jiang Hua's thoughts were in disarray. Whatever Shen Bao'er responded to, she simply replied, "Mmm."

That evening, Jiang Hua and Shen Bao'er rode in Shen Yebai's car, and the three of them went to Xiangweiju together.

Jiang Hua sat between the two of them, and Shen Yebai put some food on her plate. "You... had a fight with him?"

"No."

Shen Yebai sensed something, and seeing that she was unwilling to answer anything further, he didn't ask any more questions.

...

Jiang Group.

Zuo Xiangnan reported, "The young lady, Shen Yebai, and Miss Bao'er are dining at Xiangweiju."

"Okay, I understand." Pei Zhan showed no sign of anger or displeasure. In the past, the person sitting in this position would have been angry long ago. He continued signing the documents in his hand with his head down.

Jiang Hua returned at nine o'clock. On the way, she went to the school to pick up some necessary documents. She parked her car outside the Yulong Bay Villa.

Shen Yebai suddenly spoke to her, "I told you, you can tell me anytime if there's anything."

"Being unhappy will affect your health."

Jiang Hua: "I'm fine." Her tone was indifferent, without much emotion. She had maintained this demeanor all day. Shen Yebai just smiled and didn't say anything more. "I'm not very busy tomorrow. Message me and I'll come pick you up."

Jiang Hua: "Mm."

After getting out of the car, Jiang Hua returned to Yulong Bay. She changed her shoes in the entrance hall, while Xu Ma was still tidying up in the kitchen.

"The young lady is back?"

Jiang Hua: "Where's Dad?"

Xu Qiulan: "The gentleman has already gone back to his room to rest."

"By the way, Young Master Pei said he won't be coming over tonight, and told Miss not to wait for him."

Jiang Hua suppressed her irritation and went upstairs without saying a word.

Seeing Jiang Hua's listless appearance, Xu Qiulan knew that the two had not reconciled. It was unclear when this would end; this was probably a process they needed to go through. It would indeed be difficult for the young lady to trust Master Pei again; it would take time.

After returning to her room, Jiang Hua took a shower, lay on the bed, and quietly read for over an hour. The book remained in its original folded-corner position until she was too sleepy to stay awake any longer. She then slowly closed her eyes, left a light on, and lay down.

Having not slept well last night, Jiang Hua fell asleep quickly on her pillow.

In the dead of night, the door lock turned softly, and a figure entered from the darkness. The figure stood by the bed, gazing at the silhouette of the other person, but left after a short while.

Everyone pays the price for the mistakes they've made, and Pei Zhan is no exception. From the moment he decided to stay with the Jiang family, Pei Zhan had no choice. Choosing Jiang Hua meant giving up everything else.

The kindness of the Zhou family and everything about the Huo family…

He could give up the so-called inheritance of the Huo family, and money and wealth were the most attainable things for Pei Zhan. What was hardest to hold onto was her heart.

If he could give up these things and make her the person he needed to rely on, then the position of the Huo family heir would be completely dispensable to him.

The things he wanted to hide were all for her sake.

Their relationship was too fragile, so fragile that anyone's interference could easily shatter it, a fact that even Pei Zhan didn't know what to do with her.

If she still doesn't trust him, no matter what Pei Zhan does, this kind of thing will happen a second time...

Fortunately, Pei Zhan stopped interfering with her choices. If she still chose to trust the Shen family and rely more on Shen Yebai, Pei Zhan could only confirm his role as a tool and manage the Jiang family for her. Even if he did this, it would be to make up for all the harm he had done to her.

The Jiang family owes the Zhou family a life, and he will slowly repay that debt on behalf of the Jiang family.

Pei Zhan stayed with her while she slept for a while, and Jiang Hua didn't notice. When it was almost dawn and Jiang Hua woke up, she opened her eyes and saw the empty space next to her. She felt a little dazed. Could it be... that what she felt last night was a dream?

Xu Qiulan knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Xu Qiulan entered the room. "Miss, Young Master Shen has arrived."

Jiang Hua picked up her phone from the bedside table, glanced at the time, and realized it was almost eleven o'clock. She then remembered that she had agreed to go to the school to pick up the approved documents and prepare for the studio's matters.

She had just gotten out of bed when Xu Qiulan went to the wardrobe to prepare the clothes Jiang Hua would wear.

After washing up, Jiang Hua sat in front of the dressing table, combing her hair. Looking at herself in the mirror, she asked the question that had been on her mind, "Did Pei Zhan come back yesterday?"

Xu Qiulan replied, "Young Master Pei did not reply."

Xu Qiulan got up at 4:30. If Pei Zhan had come back, she would have seen the car parked in the yard. Besides, she spent the whole morning in the hall and didn't see Pei Zhan come downstairs.

Jiang Hua felt a tightness in her chest. Frustrated, she put down her comb, changed her clothes, grabbed her bag, and went downstairs. Without even eating, she got into Shen Yebai's car.

Not only today, but also the second day, the third day... and even the fourth and fifth days, Shen Yebai took Jiang Hua to the studio and then took her back to Yulong Bay in the evening. As time went on, even Jiang Weiguo sensed that something was wrong.

However, Jiang Weiguo saw through it but didn't say anything.

As long as she's happy, and she doesn't object to the frequent interactions between Jiang Hua and Shen Yebai, any interference from others in their relationship is superfluous.

Shen Yebai: "There's a charity gala tonight, and I need a female companion."

"This is the dress I prepared for you."

"Grandpa will be going too..."

Jiang Hua initially wanted to refuse, but then she thought of her grandfather and how she could bring up the matter of the association later, so she simply agreed.

Kyoto Grand Hotel.

Actually, it wasn't exactly a coincidence. Today, all the regional agency heads came to the headquarters in the capital for a meeting, and the major agents also organized a drinking party.

Pei Zhan couldn't refuse, so he had no choice but to participate.

Pei Zhan, the president of the headquarters, sat in the main seat, and everyone else followed his lead, flattering him. After several rounds, Pei Zhan was drunk quite a bit.

Among the various regional leaders, Pei Zhan is the youngest and the fastest to become the head of the capital headquarters. However, he is also the one who has achieved the greatest success. Previously, no one recognized the position of president of the Jiang Group. It was only after Pei Zhan's abilities and outstanding performance that everyone willingly submitted to this president.

When it was almost time, the drinking party ended.

The classic hotel corridors are all in the old-fashioned style.

Yun Sina was dressed in a Hong Kong style, wearing silver hoop earrings, with long, waist-length curly hair and bright red lips, looking very individualistic and flamboyant. "Back then... I knew my choice was right, it's just a pity that I couldn't bring you to Hong Kong to work with me. I think it would be a very pleasant thing to work with a smart person like you."

Yun Sina is five years older than Pei Zhan.

"I never imagined you would achieve such success, Pei Zhan... I'm so proud of you."

"This is all thanks to President Yun for not looking down on my lack of education and for letting me work under you back then. Otherwise, I wouldn't be where I am today."

"Thank you." Pei Zhan nodded, this was a heartfelt expression of gratitude, nothing more.

"Mommy..." Suddenly a child's voice came from not far away and hugged Yun Sina's leg, "Why did you only come out now?"

"Mommy...is this the new daddy you found for me?" The child had his hair parted in a 3/7 style, was wearing a formal suit, and had a bow tie at the collar.

Yun Sina smiled apologetically and said, "No, he is Mommy's friend and also Mommy's boss."

"I forgot to tell you, I'm divorced."

"Now that I'm raising my child alone, and there's no one else at home, I had no choice but to bring him along."

"Uncle, hug me~" This child was very outgoing and immediately asked Pei Zhan for a hug.

"Xiao Jie, you can't be rude."

Pei Zhan: "It's alright."

Zuo Xiangnan took the coat from Pei Zhan's arm, then bent down and picked up the child. The group walked towards the elevator, ready to leave.

"Uncle, you're so stylish." The child spoke in fluent Hong Kong Cantonese, "I think you'd be perfect as my daddy, how about it?"

Little did they know, Jiang Hua, who was standing right behind them, had witnessed the entire scene. Looking at the child in Pei Zhan's arms and the woman beside him, it resembled a picture of a happy family of three…